Pat McAfee pushes back on social media 'narrative' around show's NFL Draft decision

During his show earlier this week, Pat McAfee said his crew would not be attending the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay for their annual Draft Spectacular. He cited a lack of respect at the NFL Scouting Combine as a reason for that decision, but later pushed back on another social media “narrative” about the move.

McAfee reposted a story from Front Office Sports which said “insufficient respect” at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis was the reason for the decision to stay at The ThunderDome for the draft. During Monday’s show, McAfee showed pictures of himself measuring space at Lucas Oil Stadium for his set and he mentioned the management staff in question.

While he confirmed there was a lack of respect in Indianapolis last week, Pat McAfee said that wasn’t the only reason the show will be staying back from Green Bay in April. Still, he wanted to address the “narrative” about the decision.

“So, during the break, I decided that if there’s a narrative being built about me that isn’t true, I should just address it,” McAfee said on X. “I’m kind of to the point where there were so many about me, if I was to address every single thing that was said that was bullshit. Even though the quotes and the whole show was already out there, I would be spending my entire life addressing bullshit. So with that being said, I don’t think I’ve ever said ‘insufficient respect’ in my life. Now, was there a lack of respect? For sure. For sure. But the Combine and the Draft, two different events. Okay? Combine, got to prove to be there. That was gonna be a big deal. Lucky to be there.

“Then, a few days beforehand, some people at that middle level who have power wanted to flex the fact they have power, I think. Create some problems, obviously – ‘I’m gonna have to sign off on this,’ ‘I’m gonna have to see this,’ ‘You can’t do this,’ ‘You can’t do that,’ ‘This is what I’m saying,’ … all bullshit. I adhered to all of it. I even went down and did a site survey by myself with a tape measure to make sure there was enough room in the stadium for our set. Which, once again, I thought Combine Week was awesome. Hoops were made for us to jump through for no reason because I think I’m younger than these people, so I don’t think they get it, but nonetheless.”

When it comes to jumping through hoops last year, McAfee said he and his Pat McAfee Show crew had to do the same at last year’s draft. He saw “disdain” toward his crew, which didn’t sit well. That’s why the show is not only staying back from the draft, but the league meetings, as well.

“Draft was the same thing,” McAfee said. “Because, like, where they wanted to put us – allegedly – how it was gonna go, what we were gonna have to do. Just flexing power while also showcasing disdain for me and my show and my guys, all at the same time, while we have a relationship with the actual league. So it’s an interesting time.

“With that being said, I don’t want to play their games. So, we said we’re not going to the draft. But it wasn’t directly because of the ‘insufficient respect’ from the Combine. But it is a lack of it on a regular basis from one group of people, just making life harder on everybody.”